Device and a method for steering a kite in kiteboarding

ABSTRACT

A device for steering a kite, in particular in kiteboarding, consisting of control lines and a steering bar, whereby the central line connecting the kite and the user&#39;s harness and passing through the steering bar is divided into two inner lines located at equal distances from the middle of the steering bar. A method of steering a kite, whereby the movements of the steering bar are transmitted to the edges of the kite through lines connecting the kite edges with the steering bar and the user&#39;s harness, by which a hand of the user is placed in the middle section of the steering bar and does not come into contact with any of the lines while steering

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/602,369, filed Aug. 17, 2004, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

A number of publications are referenced throughout this application. The entire content of the publications is incorporated by reference herein.

THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject of the invention is a device for and a method of steering the kite while kiteboarding. The invention finds application in sports and recreation.

THE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Kite-boarding (also known as kite-surfing, fly-surfing) is a form of recreation and a sport discipline in which a person standing on a surfboard, snowboard, or skateboard is pulled by a kite, i.e. a specialized wing, over the surface of the water, snow, or earth, performing various maneuvers, e.g. turns, jumps, short flights, and the like. A person practicing kiteboarding is usually connected to the kite by means of a central line attached to a harness the user wears and side-lines connected to the ends of a steering bar held in the user's hands. The user's pulling or pushing the bar towards or away from the harness alters the kite's slope, causing an increase or decrease in the pulling force of the kite. When the right side-line of the kite is connected with the right end of the steering bar, pulling the right side of the steering bar towards the user turns the kite to the right. Similarly, if the left side-line of the kite is connected with the left end of the steering bar, pulling the left side of the steering bar towards the user turns the kite to the left. Two additional lines attached to the longer edges of the kite are usually joined above the level of the steering bar into one central line, which is then fastened to the user's harness. All kites with a central control line passing through the middle of the steering bar are controlled in the way described above.

There are different types of steering bars used to maintain control of the kite. The functioning of one of these is described in US the patent application U.S. 22088385A1. In most of these solutions, turning the kite is accomplished by changing the position of the steering bar relative to the user through drawing one of its ends closer to or further from the user's harness. In the case described, the user does this by holding the steering bar with two hands and applying greater force to one of its ends, causing greater tension on one of the side-lines and, simultaneously, less tension on the other side-line. To steer the kite the user must, in the example given, use two hands, as releasing one of them can lead to loss of control over the kite (resulting in a sudden and uncontrolled turn caused by excessive tension on a side-line), loss of balance, and fall. In addition, steering the kite with one hand is difficult due to the lack of a place for a convenient grasp on the steering bar. This is because, in addition to the two side-lines, the two central lines are also attached to the steering bar, often at the level of the steering bar and joined into one central line passing through the steering bar at the most convenient place for a handgrip. What is more, in the solution described a change in the kite's force is accomplished by turning the steering bar along its longer axis, which requires the use of two hands.

Another method of kite control is described in U.S. 2002/0084384A1, consisting of a two-rod steering bar with connections to the side and central lines and additional control handles. Thanks to this solution, more space is available for a handgrip. But even this solution does not provide an free area in the middle of the steering bar, which is necessary to ensure the user a convenient handgrip. Therefore, with this invention the use of both hands is also necessary to steer the flight of the kite.

In light of the state of the art described above, the problem requiring solution is to enable the easy steering of the kite's flight, in particular a solution allowing one to steer the kite with only one hand.

THE SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

A solution to the problem defined above was unexpectedly attained in the presented invention.

The subject of the invention is a device to steer a kite, in particular in kiteboarding, consisting of steering lines and a steering bar, in which the central line connecting the kite with the user's harness and passing through the steering bar, is divided into two inner lines located at equal distances from the middle of the control bar. Preferably, inner-line stoppers are placed on the inner lines which determine the range of movement of the steering bar. In the device of this invention, the inner lines pass through perforated elements which fasten the internal lines to the steering bar. In advantageous modifications of this invention, the perforated inner-line fasteners are in the form of immovable or movable rings, or openings wider than the diameter of an inner line. Also of advantage is when the steering bar possesses a movable stabilizing mechanism which keeps the inner lines equidistant from the middle of the steering bar. In an advantageous realization of the device according to the invention, the inner-line stoppers are connected by a tubular connecting element in which the inner line is located. Advantageous is that the tube connection contains an opening for the central line in its middle part.

The term “perforated fasteners” used in this description of the device are to be understood as any elements which allow free movement of the lines relative to the steering bar and limiting the space in which this process occurs. For example, perforated fasteners may be rings. Such rings may be of regular, in particular oval, shape or of other, irregular, closed or half-closed shape. In addition, other examples of perforated fasteners may be tubes, shackles, hooks, or similar elements fastened elements to the bar and having an opening through which a line may pass. They may also be in the form of a hole bored through the body of the bar. The perforated fasteners may occupy a permanent position relative to the bar or move relative to or along the axis of the bar.

A further subject of the invention is a means of steering the flight of a kite, in which the movements of the steering bar are transmitted to the edges of the kite by lines connecting the kite's edges with the steering bar and the user's harness, while the user's hand is placed in the middle of the steering bar and has no contact with any of the lines while steering. In the method according to the invention, in order to increase the pull of the kite the steering bar is pulled towards the user's harness, while to decrease the kite's pull, the steering bar is moved away from the user's harness. Turning the direction of flight of the kite to the right is accomplished by drawing the right end of the steering bar nearer to the user's harness, from the point of view of the user in the direction of the kite, and turning the direction of flight of the kite to the left is accomplished by drawing the left end of the steering bar nearer to the user's harness, from the point of view of the user in the direction of the kite.

This invention revealed a solution consisting of dividing the central line passing through the steering bar, which allowed having an empty space in its middle which may be well used to steer the kite more easily using only one hand, without changing its position and without collision with the third control line attached to the harness, as was the case in previous solutions. In addition, the kiteboard user gains freedom of movement of the other hand, which may be used in carrying out figures and maneuvers, such as lifting the board, jumps, and maintaining contact with the water at extremely great pulling forces of the kite and large angles of inclination of the user (e.g. near the water's surface), as well as for the transport of objects, for example an additional surfboard for someone in need.

Examples of realizations of the invention are presented below and illustrated by the attached figures.

FIG. 1 presents the steering bar and connecting line construction.

FIG. 2 presents the steering bar equipped with a moving stabilizing element.

FIG. 3 presents the steering bar equipped with movable inner-line stoppers, where:

FIG. 3A presents a realization in which the lower inner-line stoppers are connected to each other by an extended opening for the central line in the tube-shaped part connecting the two inner-line stoppers, and they are located at the same level, and

FIG. 3B presents a realization in which the lower inner-line stoppers are connected to each other by an extended opening for the central line in the tube-shaped part connecting the two inner-line stoppers, and the left inner-line stopper is lower than the right inner-line stopper and pushes it upwards.

FIG. 4 presents the steering bar equipped with unmovable fastening rings of a width greater than the diameter of the inner line.

FIG. 5 presents the steering bar equipped with movable fastening rings which can turn to the side.

In order to present the sense of the invention, the description of the invention is expanded by examples 1-7. However, it is not our intention to introduce claims limited to embodiments described in examples, because basing on presented sense of invention combined with knowledge generally available, experts will be able to prepare other variants comprised in defined claims.

EXAMPLE 1

FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 present exemplary realizations of kite steering in accordance with the invention. As seen in FIG. 1, the central line (2) connected to the harness separates into two inner lines (5) before the user's harness (3), as seen from the viewpoint of the user in the direction of the kite. Then, after passing through the steering bar (4), they join again into the central line (1) connected with the kite, usually separated into two lines attached to the longer edges of the kite. In FIG. 1 is presented the steering bar (4) with the side lines (11) running from the two sides of the steering bar to the kite. The inner lines (5) pass through the perforated inner-line fasteners (8).

If only one of the ends of the steering bar (4) is pulled towards the user's harness (3), this causes the steering bar to turn on its shorter (transverse) axis, causing the perforated inner-line fasteners (8) to allow movement of the inner lines (5), the right inner line to the right end of the steering bar (4) and the left inner line to the left end of the steering bar (4). Such movement of the steering bar (4) causes the kite to be steered to the left when the left end of the steering bar is drawn towards the user's harness (3) or to the right when the right end of the steering bar (4) is drawn towards the user's harness (3). The inner-line stoppers (10) are placed on the inner lines (5). They are to limit the movement of the steering bar (4) along the inner lines (5). The length of the inner lines (5) must match the strength of the kite. The user regulates the strength of the kite by pushing or pulling the steering bar (4) from or towards the user's harness (3) with one hand. If the steering bar (4) is nearer the user's harness (3), the kite gains strength, this being a result of a change in the slope of the kite.

The purpose of the perforated inner-line fasteners (8), which have the form of extended openings in the steering bar (4), is to enable upward and downward movement of the inner lines (5) along the transverse axis of the steering bar, as well as to a small degree to the sides along the longitudinal axis of the steering bar. As described above, the up-down movement of the steering bar (4) allows regulation of the kite's strength, while movement to the sides, in the case where the steering bar (4) is pulled on one of its ends, results in the inner lines (5) moving on the steering bar (4) towards its ends. The range of movement of the lines along the axis of the steering bar is limited by the dimensions and distance between the perforated inner-line fasteners (8). Other realizations of perforated inner-line fasteners (8) are also possible (see Examples 2, 3, and 4).

EXAMPLE 2

This is a method and device for kite steering in kiteboarding as described above in Example 1, but differing in that the perforated inner-line fasteners (8) have the form of immovable fastening rings of diameter somewhat larger than the diameter of the inner lines, allowing their free movement only parallel along the shorter (transverse) axis of the steering bar (4), and without the possibility of movement of the inner lines along the longer (longitudinal) axis of the steering bar (4).

EXAMPLE 3

This is a method and device for kite steering in kiteboarding as described in Examples 1 and 2 but differing in that the perforated inner-line fasteners (8) have the form of openings (here: immovable rings) (18) fastened to the steering bar (4) and of a diameter greater than that of the inner lines (5) and allowing movement of the inner lines (5) to the sides, along the longer axis of the steering bar (4) (see FIG. 4).

EXAMPLE 4

This is a method and device for kite steering in kiteboarding as described in Example 1 but differing in that the perforated inner-line fasteners (8) have the form of movable rings (19), permanently fastened to the steering bar (4) with the aid of movable hinges, thanks to which their movement to the sides is possible as well as changing of the position of the inner lines (5) along the longer axis of the steering bar (4) (see FIG. 5).

EXAMPLE 5

This is a method and device for kite steering in kiteboarding as described in Example 1 but differing in that the perforated inner-line fasteners (8) are connected with a movable stabilizing mechanism (13) which keeps the perforated inner-line fasteners (8) always equidistant from the middle of the steering bar (4), which allows their movement in opposite directions, as presented in FIG. 3.

EXAMPLE 6

This is a method and device for kite steering in kiteboarding as described in Example 1 but differing in that different inner-line stoppers (10) may be used in the invention. The simplest version has the form of four inner-line stoppers (10) located above and below the steering bar (4). This causes a limitation on the movement of the inner lines (4) in opposite directions. If the left inner-line stopper (10) is pushed down (see FIG. 3B), the right inner-line stopper (10) is pushed up.

If the steering bar (4) is pulled in the direction of the user's harness (3), the moveable inner-line stopper (10) facilitates the moving of the steering bar (4) end in the direction of the user's harness (3). An easy way to connect them is an extended opening for the central line in the form of a tube-shaped part connecting the two inner-line stoppers (15), running to (see FIG. 3A) the user's harness (3). The tubular connection (15) with attached inner-line stoppers (10) moves within the part which is lower (i.e. between the user's harness and steering bar) and divides the central line (6) and/or the part which is higher (i.e. between the steering bar and the kite) and divides the central line (7) and has an opening for the central line (16).

EXAMPLE 7

This is a method and device for kite steering in kiteboarding as described in Example 6 but differing in that the tube connection (15) with attached inner-line stoppers (10) moves within the part which is lower and separates the central line (6) and/or the part which is above and separates the central line (7) and has an opening for the central line (16). 

1. A device for steering a kite, in particular in kiteboarding, comprised of control lines and a steering bar, characterised in, that the central line connecting the kite and the user's harness (3) passing through the steering bar (4) is divided into two inner lines (5) located equidistant from the middle of the steering bar.
 2. The device according to claim 1, whereby stoppers (10) are located on the inner lines (5) which limit the range of movement of the steering bar (3).
 3. The device according to claim 1, whereby the inner lines (5) pass through perforated elements (8) which fasten the inner lines onto the steering bar (4).
 4. The device according to claim 3, whereby the perforated inner-line fasteners (8) have the form of immovable rings (8).
 5. The device according to claim 3, whereby the perforated inner-line fasteners (8) have the form of movable rings (19).
 6. The device according to claim 3, whereby the perforated inner-line fasteners (8) have the form of openings (18) of width greater than the diameter of the inner line (5).
 7. The device according to claim 1, whereby the steering bar (4) has a moving stabilizing mechanism (13) which maintains equal distances of the inner lines (5) from the middle of the steering bar (4).
 8. The device according to claim 1, whereby the inner-line stoppers (10) are connected by a tubular connection (15) in which the internal line is located.
 9. The device according to claim 8, whereby the tubular connector (15) has in its middle part an opening for the central line (16).
 10. A method of steering a kite, whereby movements of the steering bar are transmitted to the edges of the kite through lines connecting the kite edges with the steering bar and the user's harness, by which a hand of the user is placed in the middle section of the steering bar and does not come into contact with any of the lines while steering.
 11. The method according to claim 10, whereby the kite's force of pull is increased by pulling the steering bar towards the user's harness.
 12. The method according to claim 10, whereby the kite's force of pull is decreased by pushing the steering bar away from the user's harness.
 13. The method according to claim 10, whereby turning the direction of flight of the kite to the right is accomplished by drawing the right end of the steering bar nearer to the user's harness, as seen from the standpoint of the user.
 14. The method according to claim 10, whereby turning the direction of flight of the kite to the left is accomplished by drawing the left end of the steering bar nearer to the user's harness, as seen from the standpoint of the user. 